FALKLANDS veteran Simon Weston has welcomed the Court of Appeal ruling that an obligation on jobseekers to disclose all previous convictions is a breach of their human rights.

Three Court of Appeal judges ruled yesterday the law was incompatible with the right under European law to a private and family life.

The declaration of incompatibility was hailed as a victory for common sense by civil liberties campaigners but the Government said it was “disappointed” and sought leave to appeal.

Mr Weston, who was fined as a teenager for being a passenger in a stolen car, said the current legislation would lead to “so many good people” being written off and was pleased that “legal minds agree”.

The 51-year-old said he withdrew from the elections for the £100,000-a- year job of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales last year after he was “hounded” over the offence.

He said: “I told the truth, then I was getting hounded by one or two people telling me I definitely can’t stand. It was when I was 14, I’m 51 now. How long must this mistake haunt my life?”

He added: “How many people didn’t pinch a pack of sweets at the age of 10 or 11 years old? We all make ridiculous mistakes before we’re 16 years old.”

He added: “We’re going to write off so many good people.”

Mr Weston, a father of three and a former Welsh Guardsman, was badly burned when the Sir Galahad was destroyed in 1982 during the Falklands conflict. He suffered 46% burns on his body.

Mr Weston went on to forge a new career as a charity worker, writer of children’s books and after-dinner speaker. When he announced his decision to stand in February, he urged others to follow his example to stop ageing politicians taking the roles.

He said: “It was awful to have to stand down, especially when I wanted to represent the people of South Wales.

“I just needed to get to the end of it. I couldn’t put up with having people question what I did when I was 14 when I’m now 51.

“If we look at my life and read through my history – haven’t I done enough to wash these sins from my hands?”

He said the ruling proved there were “legal minds that agree” and added that he welcomed that something was being done to “address” the issue.

After their ruling, the judges said it would be for Parliament to devise a “proportionate” scheme.

The Home Office said: “The protection of children and vulnerable groups must not be compromised.

“We are disappointed by this judgement and are seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Liberty’s legal officer, Corinna Ferguson, said: “This sensible judgement requires the Government to introduce a more nuanced system for disclosing this type of sensitive personal data to employers.

“For too long irrelevant and unreliable information provided under the blanket CRB system has blighted people’s lives.”

Jon Brown, head of the NSPCC’s sexual abuse programmes, said: “Whatever the outcome of this legal wrangle, the protection of children is paramount.”